To strengthen COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in the province of Lanao del Sur, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) now uses Infocast, an SMS broadcast system powered by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart). With Smart Infocast, public and private institutions and organizations can easily distribute important information within their community and allow registered subscribers to send feedback to the system administrator.

Dr. Nihaya Macasindil, Provincial Community Quarantine Manager, shared, “With #SmartInfocast IPHO can disseminate important information in one text blast to our health workers on the ground.  We can also keep the community updated on the government’s vaccination schedules and other health advisories.”

Through Smart Infocast, health workers receive timely updates and announcements in the form of text alerts, wherever they are. “This helps us convey our communications efforts effectively and enables us to continue our programs to mitigate the impact of the health crisis,” Macasindil added. 

As active partners, Smart and parent company PLDT have been supporting the provincial government of Lanao del Sur through donations of care bags for Meranaw frontliners and digital solutions to support their COVID-19 response programs. 

These form part of PLDT and Smart’s #SafeandSmart and ICT for development advocacies that underscore their critical role in disaster management in the Philippines. These initiatives also emphasize the companies’ commitment to attaining United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 11 of making communities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.